A Sacramento Superior Court Justice just announced an order that allow lawyer Patrick Soluri—who’s suing the city of Sacramento over what he’s referred to as a “secret” arena deal—to depose Councilman Kevin McCarty.

Soluri claims that the council member told himself and resident Isaac Gonzalez that an attorney working for the mayor, Jeff Dorso, orchestrated a behind-the-scenes move to include land giveaways in the arena deal. The thinking here is that, since Vivek Ranadive and Co. had to pay more for the Kings than any franchise purchased in NBA history, they needed an extra $60 million or so in incentives from the cit to go forward with the deal.

McCarty responded to the judge’s order this evening via email:

“On the City Council I have consistently asked tough questions about the public financing of the arena. I certainly have no problem answering tough questions during these legal proceedings. The City Treasurer has answered my questions – the public will pay out $22 million per year for 35 years and will get back $2.7 million per year during those same years.”

There’s nothing fun about a deposition … and just in time for McCarty’s Assembly bid.